Sonoma Mountain Ecology Notes

Celebrating and Caring for the Land

Dark Wing Tips

This juvenile Red-tailed Hawk and Osprey have similar but different patterns of white and black when viewed from below. White coloration from below helps blend with a bright sky while hunting and black coloration (melanin) is known to strengthen feathers and provide resistance to abrasion.

For more info: https://www.audubon.org/news/ask-kenn-kaufman-why-do-so-many-white-birds-have-black-wingtips#:~:text=In%20this%20case%2C%20there%27s%20one,or%20in%20a%20parking%20lot).

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